Congress is working on a massive economic stimulus package that will result in Americans receiving a direct payment from the federal government. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the goal is for the first check to be issued April 6th.
“If there is a need for a second check that could be done six to eight weeks later, depending on how this epidemic is going,” said Cassidy.
The amounts would depend on income and family and the two potential cash infusions will cost 250-billion dollars each.
Cassidy says the federal government is also working to get more testing kits out, so more people can be tested. A drive-thru testing site in Baton Rouge had to suspend operations yesterday after it ran out of testing kits. He says finding out who has the virus is critical to stopping the spread.
“I do think that will get better over the next week, two weeks and it has to get better,” said Cassidy.
Cassidy, a doctor, says he supports Governor Edwards’ dramatic measures to close down schools, restaurants and bars. He’s been in contact with hospitals to make sure they are ready as the virus is showing no signs of slowing down.
“Setting up protocols so that if somebody shows up the emergency room and they have symptoms of coronavirus they go in one direction and everybody else goes in the other direction, figuring out staffing ratios and when times comes canceling elective surgeries to increase bed capacity,” said Cassidy.
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